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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Can You Answer These Four (4) Questions?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 29, 2024

AMUEL CLEMENS was better known by his pen name: Mark Twain. His daughter married a famous pianist and conductor named OSSIP GABRILOWITSCH, who studied with (among others) Anton Rubinstein, Glazunov, Medtner, and Leschetizky. Gabrilowitsch was arrested (!) at the outbreak of World War I as an “enemy national.” He was released from jail thanks to ARCHBISHOP EUGENIO PACELLI, a.k.a. Pope Pius XII. In any event, Mark Twain once wrote: “There’s no such thing as an uninteresting life, such a thing is an impossibility. Beneath the dullest exterior, there is a drama, a comedy, a tragedy.”

Consequences Not Considered • The ‘interior’ life (to follow upon what Mark Twain said) of a church musician who takes his work seriously is not easy. It can be lonely and discouraging. Furthermore, the post-conciliar reformers—without realizing the enormous consequences of their actions—added thousands of texts that, throughout the Church’s entire history, had never been set to music. Then (in spite of what Vatican II had ordered) everybody started doing Mass in the vernacular … with the result that all of a sudden millions of new compositions had to be created for each language.

Unity At Your Parish? • How can the competent choirmaster unify music at a parish that offers Mass in English, Latin, Spanish, Vietnamese, and other languages? Answer the following four (4) questions and let me know what you think of my approach.

Question One:
Sing through the OFFERTORY ANTIPHON for last Sunday’s English Mass. (It isn’t necessary to sing through each verse—just the antiphon itself.) Now sing through the OFFERTORY ANTIPHON for last Sunday’s Mass in Spanish. Do you notice anything?

Question Two:
Sing through last Sunday’s COMMUNION ANTIPHON in English. (Don’t sing through the verses—just the antiphon itself.) Having done that, sing through last Sunday’s COMMUNION ANTIPHON in Spanish. Díco vóbis íterum: Do you notice anything? Think carefully about the melody.

Question Three:
Take a look at the OPENING HYMN for last Sunday’s English Mass. Then examine the RECESSIONAL for last Sunday’s English Mass. Now take a look at the OPENING HYMN for the Spanish Mass:

Question Four:
Examine last Sunday’s COMMUNION SONG for the English Mass. Having done that, sing through last Sunday’s COMMUNION SONG for the Spanish Mass:

Again, I hope you’ll let me know what you think of this approach!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ossip Gabrilowitsch, Spanish Mass Propers Last Updated: July 29, 2024

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”
    Various shell corporations (in an effort to make money selling Sacred Scripture) have tinkered with the LECTIONARY texts in a way that’s shameful. It’s no wonder Catholics in the pews know so few Bible passages by heart. Without authorization, these shell corporations pervert the official texts. Consider the Responsorial Psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If you download this PDF comparison chart you’ll notice each country randomly omits certain sections. Such tinkering has gone on for 60+ years—and it’s reprehensible.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 29th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 19 October 2025, which is the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the sensational feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The Humanists abominated the rhythmical poetry of the Middle Ages from an exaggerated enthusiasm for ancient classical forms and meters. Hymnody then received its death blow as, on the revision of the Breviary under Pope Urban VIII, the medieval rhythmical hymns were forced into more classical forms by means of so-called corrections.”

— ‘Father Clemens Blume, S.J.’

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